Literary Terms: English

A Contemporary Guide to Literary Terms: With Strategies for Writing Essays About Literature (Barton)
Provides concise definitions for a wide range of literary terms.  Entries discuss "how the original meaning of the term has evolved.  Examples seek to clarify the meaning and use of the terms in practical criticism."  Many of the entries include cross-references to other entries.  The second section of the book, "Strategies for Writing Essays About Literature", includes three annotated student essays.  The authors provide background information on the challenges the students faced in writing each of the essays.  Includes an Index of Authors and Works and an Index of Terms.
REF. PN44.5.B332 1997

A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory (Cuddon)
Alphabetically arranged, this title provides definitions of technical terms, genres, forms, literary movements, motifs, themes, styles, and character types.   In addition to a definition, many entries include the origin of the word, examples or illustrative passages.  Good cross-references.  "Cuddon is the most international and inclusive of single-volume dictionaries of literary terms."
REF.PN41.C83 1998
ebook version, 2013

A Glossary of Contemporary Literary Theory (Hawthorn)
Provides definitions of terms related to literary theory.  Cross-references are used throughout.  In the "Using the Glossary" section, Schools and approaches lists the major approaches for literary criticism and provides a list of terms associated with each approach.  The section Other useful glossaries and dictionaries includes recommendations of other sources by the author.  Includes a bibliography of books, book chapters, and articles.
REF.PN44.5.H37 2000

A Glossary of Literary Terms (Abrams)
Defines and discusses terms, critical theories and movements, and points of view commonly used in the analysis and interpretation of literary works. Especially useful for undergraduates. "For clarity, concision and elegance Abrams has few peers and no superiors; plain spoken but not simplistic, his essays on critical methods are the best short treatments in the business." (Choice)
REF.PN41.A184 2005 

Handbook of Literary Terms Literature, Language, Theory (Kennedy) 
Provides an alphabetical listing of 400 entries covering a wide array of literary terms and concepts with concise definitions and pronunciation guides.  Examples are used to illustrate and explain the concepts.  Cross-references are provided.  All of the major schools of literary theory are included. 
REF. PN44.5.K46 2005

The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory & Criticism  (Groden)
"The Guide consists of 241 alphabetically arranged entries on individual critics and theorists, critical and theoretical schools and movements, and critical and theoretical innovations of specific countries and historical periods.... "Each entry includes a selective primary and secondary bibliography and there are extensive cross references both within and at the conclusion of each entry." Pref.  Includes an Index of Names, an Index of Topics, and a list of Contributors and the title(s) of their entries.
REF.PN81.J554 2005

Life-writing: a glossary of terms in biography, autobiography, and related forms   2nd. ed. (Winslow) 
Alphabetically arranged, this title provides a listing of  terms used in biography, autobiography and related forms of writing.  The definitions are succinct and include illustrative references to life-writers and their subjects as well as cross-references. 
REF.CT21.W56 1995

Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms   3rd. ed. (Baldick)
Provides clear, concise, definitions for over 1,200 literary terms. Coverage includes new terms from modern critical and theoretical movements, such as feminism, and schools of American poetry, Spanish verse forms, life writing, and crime fiction.  It includes extensive coverage of traditional drama, versification, rhetoric, and literary history.

Routledge Dictionary of Literary Terms  (Childs)
The latest edition of The Routledge Dictionary of Literary Terms is "the most up-to-date guide to critical and theoretical concepts available to students of literature at all levels."   Entries cover such topics as genre, form, cultural theory and literary technique.  Includes cross-references and suggestions for further reading.

Created by: Cathy Callaghan, B.A., M.L.S.
Date Created: 23-June-2009

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